Cranial Nerves

Question 1

What is the modality of the trigeminal nucleus?

Answer 1

Sensory

Question 2

What nucleus is responsible for taste?

Answer 2

Nucleus solitarius

Question 3

What is CN VII?

Answer 3

Facial

Question 4

What nerves exit the skull via the superior orbital fissure?

Answer 4

CN III, IV, V1, VI

Question 5

What is CN I?

Answer 5

Olfactory

Question 6

Where does CN VII & VIII exit the cranium?

Answer 6

Internal acoustic meatus

Question 7

What is CN XI?

Answer 7

Spinal accessory

Question 8

CN III runs between what two arteries?

Answer 8

Superior cerebellar and posterior cerebral arteries

Question 9

What CN have nuclei in the medulla?

Answer 9

CN IX, X, XI, XII

Question 10

What is CN is the Trigeminal nerve?

Answer 10

CN V

Question 11

How does CN XI innervation of the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius differ?

Answer 11

CN XI is contralateral to the trapezius and ipsilateral to the SCM

Question 12

What is the function of the medial longitudinal fasciculus?

Answer 12

The MLF provides a connection between the abducens nucleus and oculomotor nucleus. This allows for medial gaze.

Question 13

What is CN VI?

Answer 13

Abducens

Question 14

What CN is the Occulomotor nerve?

Answer 14

CN III

Question 15

What nucleus wraps around the abducens nucleus?

Answer 15

Facial nucleus wraps around abducens nucleus

Question 16

What nuclei play a role in the gag reflex?

Answer 16

Spinal nucleus of trigeminal (CN IX) & ambiguus (CN X)

Question 17

What is CN IV?

Answer 17

Trochlear

Question 18

What nucleus is responsible for pupil size and lens shape? What CN synapses at this nucleus?

Answer 18

Edinger-Westphal Nucleus, CN III

Question 19

What is the modality of the ambiguus nucleus?

Answer 19

Motor & parasympathetic (CN X)

Question 20

What CN is the Vestibulocochlear nerve?

Answer 20

CN VIII

Question 21

Where is lateral gaze coordinated?

Answer 21

Paramedian pontine reticular formation (PPRF)

Question 22

What is the only CN to have nuclei in all regions of the brainstem?

Answer 22

Trigeminal

Question 23

Nuclei for what CN are found in the midbrain?

Answer 23

CN III, IV, V

Question 24

What are the branches of the Trigeminal nerve?

Answer 24

V1 - Ophthalmic
V2 - Maxillary
V3 - Mandibular

Question 25

What nucleus connects V1 and CN VII to induce involuntary eye blinking due to stimulation of the cornea?

Answer 25

Trigeminal nucleus

Question 26

What CN are located in the Pons?

Answer 26

CN VI, VII, VIII

Question 27

How does control of upper and lower facial muscles differ?

Answer 27

The facial nerve innervates both upper and lower facial muscles. The upper muscles have bilateral (ipsilateral and contralateral) control, while the lower muscles only have contralateral control.

Question 28

Axons from the optic nerve synapse where before crossing over at the posterior commissure?

Answer 28

Pretectal nuclei

Question 29

Where are the nuclei for the olfactory and optic nerves located?

Answer 29

Trick question. CN I & II do not have nuclei. The olfactory nerve connects directly with the temporal lobe. The optic nerve connects directly with the brainstem, thalamus, and hypothalamus.

Question 30

What is CN II?

Answer 30

Optic

Question 31

What CN is the hypoglossal nerve?

Answer 31

CN XII

Question 32

What are the functions of CN III?

Answer 32

Eye movement, maintain open eyelid, pupil size, lens shape

Question 33

What CN is the glossopharyngeal nerve?

Answer 33

CN IX

Question 34

What is CN X?

Answer 34

Vagus

Question 35

True/False. A lesion on the optic nerve leads to a deficit in the consensual pupillary light reflex in that eye.

Answer 35

False. The pupillary light reflex is a branch of CN III and would be functional despite a lesion on CN II. Only a consensual pupillary reflex and not a direct reflex would be present.

Question 36

Motor CN nuclei are found where in the brainstem?

Answer 36

Medially

Question 37

Sensory CN nuclei are found where in the brainstem?

Answer 37

Laterally

Question 38

What nerve exits the foramen ovale?

Answer 38

CN V3

Question 39

Where does the maxillary nerve exit the cranium?

Answer 39

Foramen rotundum

Question 40

What structure exits the cranium via the foramen spinosum?

Answer 40

Middle meningeal artery

Question 41

What nerves exit the skull via the jugular foramen?

Answer 41

CN IX, X, XI

Question 42

Where does CN XII exit the skull? Where is this space located?

Answer 42

Hypoglossal canal, located lateral to the foramen magnum

Question 43

What is the only CN to exit the skull via the foramen magnum?

Answer 43

CN XI

Question 44

What CN controls most muscles of eye movement?

Answer 44

CN III - Occulomotor

Question 45

The superior oblique muscle is controlled by what CN?

Answer 45

CN IV - Trochlear

Question 46

What is the only muscle of eye movement innervated by the Abducens nerve?

Answer 46

Lateral rectus

Question 47

Taste sensation to the tongue is provided by what nerve?

Answer 47

Anterior - CN VII (chorda tympani) Root - CN IX

Question 48

Motor innervation for most tongue muscles is from what nerve?

Answer 48

CN XII

Question 49

What nerves provide general sensory innervation to the tongue?

Answer 49

Anterior - CN V3 Root - CN IX & X